There will always be children and young people in schools who are dealing with difficulties in life that inhibit their capacity to engage in learning, and some of them will need more assistance to improve their emotional literacy than others. An initiative called ELSA was created and is backed by educational psychologists. It acknowledges that if children's emotional needs are met, their academic performance and happiness in school will improve.
At Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon y Cymoedd, we have the good fortune to work with certified emotional literacy support assistants. They have received training from educational psychologists to develop and present assistance programmes for students who require longer-term or temporary supplementary emotional support. The majority of ELSA work is delivered individually, however occasionally small group work is more beneficial.
Bydd plant a phobl ifanc bob amser mewn ysgolion sy'n delio ag anawsterau mewn bywyd sy'n rhwystro eu gallu i gymryd rhan mewn dysgu, a bydd angen mwy o gymorth ar rai ohonynt i wella eu llythrennedd emosiynol nag eraill. Crëwyd menter o'r enw ELSA ac mae'n cael ei chefnogi gan seicolegwyr addysg. Mae'n cydnabod os yw anghenion emosiynol plant yn cael eu diwallu, y bydd eu perfformiad academaidd a'u hapusrwydd yn yr ysgol yn gwella.
Yn Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon y Cymoedd, mae gennym y ffortiwn dda i weithio gyda chynorthwywyr cymorth llythrennedd emosiynol ardystiedig. Maen nhw wedi derbyn hyfforddiant gan seicolegwyr addysg i ddatblygu a chyflwyno rhaglenni cymorth i fyfyrwyr sydd angen cymorth hirach neu gymorth emosiynol atodol dros dro. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o waith ELSA yn cael ei ddarparu'n unigol, ond o bryd i'w gilydd mae gwaith grŵp bach yn fwy buddiol.
Recognising feelings and emotions
Cydnabod teimladau ac emosiynau
Referrals for ELSA support are generally made by the child's class teacher, parents, SENCo, or ELSA practitioners. The wellbeing team should be consulted first by parents who want to request a referral. In accordance with the program's objectives, we then design support sessions to assist pupils in acquiring new abilities and coping mechanisms that will improve their ability to effectively handle social and emotional demands. Once a week for eight weeks, there are sessions that last 30 minutes each.
Yn gyffredinol, gwneir atgyfeiriadau ar gyfer cymorth ELSA gan athro dosbarth y plentyn, rhieni, ALENco, neu ymarferwyr ELSA. Dylid ymgynghori â'r tîm lles yn gyntaf gan rieni sydd am ofyn am atgyfeiriad. Yn unol ag amcanion y rhaglen, yna rydym yn dylunio sesiynau cymorth i gynorthwyo disgyblion i gaffael galluoedd newydd a mecanweithiau ymdopi a fydd yn gwella eu gallu i ymdrin â gofynion cymdeithasol ac emosiynol yn effeithiol. Unwaith yr wythnos am wyth wythnos, mae'na sesiynau sy'n para 30 munud yr un.